I like to think that I have the ability to control my projects but in reality “control” is the wrong verb to describe what I and my fellow project managers do. We do not control projects, we manage them.
However, there are things that project managers can control, and these relate to ourselves. For example, a project manager can control the following in a project –
Our emotions
How we react to challenges
How we react to other project team members and stakeholders
Our own desire to change
Our desire to improve
Our perspective
Our perception
Our decisions
Our determination
Our discipline
Our opinions
Our judgements
Our creativity
Our behaviour towards others
How we treat our team members and other stakeholders
Our attitude
Our desires
Our tenacity
Our words
So while I do not control the project I can try and control myself while I manage the project.
Successful International Project Management 